Automatic alarm system



April 28, 1964 J. EVANS AUTOMATIC ALARM SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1960 m T N E V m April 28, 1964 J. EVANS AUTOMATIC ALARM SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1960 James Evans, INVENTOR.

4 AIM-l ly:

United. States Patent 3,131,269 AUTOMA'HC ALARM SYSTEM James Evans, 211 16th St. SE, Paris, Tex. Filed Mar. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 17,289 19 Claims. (Cl. 179-5) This invention relates generally to alarmsysterns and more particularly to an automatic alarm system for use with a conventional telephone circuit whereby, a house, equipped with the system, having a fire will be able to summon fire-fighting equipment in a minimum of time.

Most alarm systems presently available on the market forprotecting homes from fire damage usually include means for detecting a fire and'means for actuating an alarm to warn the occupants of the house and perhaps neighboring homes of theexistence of the danger. Some systems are associated with a central communications system for notification of the local fire department. The latter systems, though providing greater protection than the former systems, are considerably more costly and require the participation of, an entire community. Other systems that have been developed are utilized in con junction with a conventional telephone circuit for notifying the fire department of the fire through the telephone lines. However the majority of the systems which, have been proposed for use with telephones, are unacceptable because they require special use of the telephone lines and special authorization of the telephone company. In

view of this, it would appear desirable to develop a system for detecting a fire and notifying the local fire department thereof, which is relatively inexpensive and further which does not require authorization for use of the existing telephone lines..

In view of theabove, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel alarm system for utilization with a telephone circuit for notifying the local fire department of a fireat a particular address.

It is a further object of thisinvention toprovide a novel alarm system which may be easily set in an alert condition when the occupants of the house or building depart therefrom. The alarm system'includes means for automatically dialing the local fire department'when a fire occurs. The dialing is effected by the programmed operation of the circuit breaker buttons generally provided in the cradle of the telephone. The telephone handset is mounted adjacent an audio device, includinga tape recorder, when the system is in the alert condition, so that following the dialing of the local fire department the audio device delivers a-pr -recorded message to the fire department advising the department of theaddress ofthe burning house or building. 1 i

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel alarm system which is-relatively' inexpensive'to manufacture and-maintain and which-is reliable and easy to utilize.

These together with other objects and advantages which;

will become subsequently apparent reside' in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals referto likefparts throughout, and'in whichz FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the components of' the alarm system illustrating schematically thewiring therebetween;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the plane 22' of FIGURE 1; i FIGURE 3 is an enlargedfragmentary sectional view taken substantially along .the.plane.33.-of.-FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan viewillustrating the;

cooperating relationshipsbetween the dialing'arm and circuit breaker button of the telephone cradle;

P 3,131,2se

Patented A LRZS FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken sub stantially along the plane '55 of FIGURE 12'; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view ofone of the projec tions adapted to be mounted on the circumferenceof a code disk for programming the operation of the dial am. With continuing reference to the drawings, thenumer'al 10 generally represents a support surface carried bylegs 12 upon which the system components are adapted to-be placed. As previously indicated, the invention makes'u'se of a conventional telephone 14'provided with'a cradle 16 and a pair of circuit breakercontac't buttons'lsfi The telephone 14 further includes ahand-set 20 having a re ceiver portion-22 and a'transmitter portion 24.

The invention makes use of awell-known alternative means for dialing a number." Generally, telephones are provided with rotatable dials 26 having openingstherein which are superposed over indicia; When a'nuinber-is dialed, the rotatable dial 26 is turned toward a stop mem ber 28. If a finger is placed'in the first dial opening and the dial 26 is turned until the finger engages the stop member 23, the telephone circuit is broken once. Ifthe' fingerbe placed in the second-hole and the dial --be rotated toward the stop member-2 8, the circuit is broken twice. Likewise, the circuit maybe intermittently broken any number of times from three to tenbyplacingthe finger in thecorrect opening and turning the dial toward the stop member 28. The breaking of the circuit is accomplishedby the springreturn of the dial to its original position. An alternative. means of intermittently-break ingthe circuit, is accomplished by depressingthe buttons 18. Accordingly, if a number is .to be dialed which for example. necessitates the breaking of a circuit twice, conventionally, a person would place his finger in the second hole and rotate the hole 26 to the stop 28. 7 However, the button .18. may be depressed rapidly: two timesto accomplish the same ,result.. 7 The invention includes asensonunit 30,.a control unit 32, dialing means 34, and an audio unit 36.. i V A source of electrical energy, preferably a.battery,.-is connected across conductors 38 311(149. The conductor. 38 extends to the sensorunit 30'which'comprises a nor-. mally open thermostatic switch. The'thermostatic switch is set to be closed at a predetermined temperature, indica: tive of a fire. Actually, thesensor unit 30,may comprise a plurality of thermostatic switchesconnected 'inparallel for sensing or detecting'the presence of 'afirejin any; of several rooms in a building or house. [A conductor 42 extends from the sensor unit 30 to the control unit 32, The control unit 32 includes ahousingfl having the v aIi oujs control unit elements mounted therein. The elements include a spring motor having coil spring 465(FIG URE 2) which has a first end' 48 thereof securedftoa spindle 59." A second'end 52 of the spring 46' is secured to wheel 54 providedwith a seriesofcircumferentially disposed teeth 5 6.v The spring46 tends to 'rotatably move the wheel 54. Adetent'58'ispivoted to the hOHSlIlgflti 60 and-is terminally securedto armature 6219f release relay 64.. The. release relay 64 is .provided-witlra coil:

66, Conductor 42 is connected. to.one.side,ofthe coil 66;

while conductorl40 is connectedto the second side. of the rr'ially spring urged into engagement with teeth 5 6 0 f wheel 54, releases the wheel 54 so as tolallow the spring 46 to rotate the' wheel 54.

The teethSd of wheel 54 aremeshed-with -teeth 168 of' wheel 7t? rotatable on spindle72 which in" turn are en gag-ed with teeth 74 on hub '76 of-the code .disk"7$-.E The code diskl'ta is rotatable on Spindle Strand carries with it or is drivingly connected to a radial switch arm (a 82 of an initiating switch means to be hereafter described. The code disk 73 defines a circumferential cavity 34 (FIGURE adapted to receive the trapezoidal ends 86 of projections 88. The projections 83 have a tapered dial-pulsing head 90 and a trapezoidal end 86 as is particularly illustrated in FIGURE 6. The projections 88 are preferably formed of rubber or some other frictional material and are adapted to be adjustably and removably mounted within the cavity 84 on the circumference of the code disk 78. It is to be appreciated therefore that upon closure of the thermostatic switch of the sensor unit 30, the relay 66 will be energized so as to cause the detent 58 to release the wheel 54 driven by spring 46 to turn the wheel 79 and hub 76 of code disk 73.

A normally opened control switch 92 being provided with a contact arm 94 is mounted in the housing 44. The contact arm 94 is disposed so as to be engaged by the projections 38 on the code disk 78 upon rotation of the code disk 78. A first terminal of the switch 92 is connected to conductor 38 while a second terminal 96 of the switch 92 is connected to coil 98 of relay 1%. The second terminal of coil 98 is connected directly to conductor 40. It will therefore be appreciated that upon closure of normally open switch 92 relay coil 98 will be energized. The relay 1% is secured to standard 102 supported on the surface 10. The relay 160 includes an armature 1M secured to a dialing arm 1% remote from a pivotal mounting 108. The dialing arm 1% is mounted for pivotal movement in support 116 secured to the surface 10. The arm 1% is Z-shaped and is provided with an end portion 112 in alignment with the button 18. A spring 114 normally urges the arm 1% and end 112 into engagement with the button 103.

The operation of the circuit components described to this point will now be considered. Upon detection of a fire, the thermostatic switch comprising the sensor unit 39 will close so as to energize the relay 64 to release the wheel 54 to allow rotation of the code disk 78. The code disk 78 is provided with a circuit-opening portion of the circumference which is void as at 116. When the system is in the alert position, the code disk is disposed so that the portion 116 of the circumference thereof is adjacent the contact arm 94 allowing the switch 92 to remain open. Accordingly, the circuit to the relay coil 98 will be opened and the spring 114 will keep the end 112 in engagement with the button 18. Upon the rotation of the disk 78, the initial long circuit-closing projection 118 will engage the contact arm 94 to close the switch 92 and energize the relay coil 98 to draw the armature 104 upwardly to pivot the arm 1% about mounting 108 so as to disengage the end 112 from the button 13. Accordingly, a dial tone is received on the telephone line which permits the dialing of a telephone number. The code disk 78 continues to rotate and the projections 38 cause the programmed closing of the switch 92 so as to cause the programmed operation of the coil 98 and a corresponding movement of the arm 106. As noted, by properly breaking the circuit by depressing and releasing button 18, a number can be successfully dialed. It is contemplated that the projections 88 be so arranged that the system will cause thes local fire or police department to be dialed. It will be noted that a substantially flat spacing projection 120 is utilized to space each of the numbers of the telephone number from each other. conventionally, a telephone number is called by utilizing seven digits.

The rotation of the disk 78 carries therewith the switch actuating arm 82. A normally opened switch 122 is disposed on the housing 44. The switch 122 constitutes an audio device initiating switch and is connected by a first terminal to conductor 4t). A second terminal is connected to conductor 124 which extends to relay coil 126 of release relay 128. A second terminal of relay coil 126 is connected to conductor 33. The audio device 36 may be a conventional tape or wire recorder which has a pre-recorded message recorded thereon. When radial arm 82 engages contact arm 123 on normally opened switch 122, relay coil 126 is energized. The armature 131) of relay 123 is pivotally connected to detent 132, pivoted at 134. The detent 132 is engaged with teeth 136 of wheel 13%. The wheel 138 is drivingly associated with hub 140 through wheel 1 .2. Hub 140 is formed on wheel 144 secured to spindle 146. A reel 159 carrying recording tape 152 is connected to spindle 146 and upon release of wheel 138, rotates with the spindle 146, which is now free to rotate. The tape 152 is thereby drawn past head 154 which detects the prerecorded message and sends the signal through conductors 156 and 153 to a conventional amplifier 161! which in turn is connected to speaker 152. The speaker 162 is positioned adjacent the wall of the audio device housing 164. The housing 164 is provided with a carriage 166 upon which the handset 20 of the telephone 14 may be mounted. The transmitter portion 24- is disposed adjacent the speaker 162 for carrying the message from the tape 152 through the telephone lines. Accordingly, it will be apparent that after the rotation of the code disk 73 has caused the fire or police department to be dialed, the radial arm 82 will close the switch 122, to cause the release of detent 132 to allow the rotation of reel 15%, the detection of the pro-recorded message, and the transmitting of the message through the transmitter portion 24 of the handset 20.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that an inexpensive and reliable alarm system has been disclosed for automatically notifying the fire or police department of a fire and for automatically informing the department of the address of the location of the fire. It will be further apparent that the utilization of the system disclosed does not hinder the normal use of the telephone 14 inasmuch as the cradle 16 of the telephone 14 may be easily removed from beneath the arm 196 and the handset 29 may be easily removed from the carriage 166. It should further be appreciated that all of the components set forth above may be disposed in a single housing.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An automatic alarm system for use with a telephone subset including a handset having magnetic pick-u means electrically connected to a cradle which is electrically connected to telephone lines and mounts a manual dialing device and a circuit breaker button ordinarily actuated by the handset, comprising, a sensor unit, a control unit, means connecting said sensor unit to said control unit for initiating operation of said control unit in response to actuation of said sensor unit, an arm, movably mounted in fixed relation to the cradle and disposed in alignment with said button for engagement therewith, said arm being operatively connected mechanically to said control unit for movement thereby into engagement with said button for emergency plural number dialing independent of said manual dialing device.

2. An automatic alarm system for use with a telephone subset including a handset having magnetic pick-upmeans electrically connected to a cradle which is electrically connected to telephone lines and mounts a manual dialing device and a circuit breaker button ordinarily actuated by the handset, comprising, a sensor unit, a control unit, means connecting said sensor unit to said control unit for initiating operation of said control unit in response to actuation of said 'sens'or'unit, an arm movably mounted in fixed relation to the cradle and disposed in alignment with said button for engagement therewith, said arm being operatively connected mechanically to said control unit for movement thereby into engagement with said button for emergency'plural number dialing independent of said manual dialing device, an audio device, said audio device being provided 'with prerecorded message means, said handset being disposed adjacent to said audio device for reception therefrom of prerecorded messages by the pick-up means for transmission through the telephone'lines and means connecting said control unit to said audio device for initiating operation of said device following programmed movement of said arm.

3. An automatic alarm system for use with a telephone subset including a handset having pick-up means electrically connected to a cradle which is electrically connected to telephone lines'and mounts a manual dialing device and a circuit breaker button ordinarily actuated by the'handset, comprising, a sensor unit, a control unit, means connecting said sensor unit to said control unit for initiating operation thereof, dial means mounted independent of said manual dialing device and in mechanically operative relation to said telephone era die for emergency plural number dialing, and means operatively connecting said control unit to said dial means for controlling programmed dialing operation thereof.

4. The'co'mbination of claim 3, an audio device, said audio device being provided with pre-recorded 'message means, said handset being disposed adjacent to said'audio device for reception therefrom of prerecorded messages by the pick-up means for transmission through the telephones lines, and means connecting said control unit to said audio device for initiating operation of said device, subsequent to completion of said programmed dialing operation.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said sensor unit comprises a' normally open thermostatic switch.

"6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said control unit includes a code disk carrying a plurality of replace able projections on the circumference thereof, a normally open controlswitch disposed adjacent said disk having a contact arm engageable by said projections, power means connected to said disk rotatably' urging said disk to engage said projections with said contact arm, and detent means normally preventing rotation of said disk;

7. An automatic alarm system for use with a telephone subset including a handset having pick-up means electrically connected to a cradle which is electrically'connected to telephone lines and-mounts a manual dialing device and a circuit breaker button ordinarily actuated'by the handset comprising a sensor unit, a control unit, means connecting said sensor unit to said control unit for initiating operation thereof, dial means'mounted independent of said dialing device and in mechanically operative relation to said telephone cradle for emergency plural number dialing, means operatively connecting said control unit to said dial means for controlling programmed dialing operation thereof, an audio device, said audio device being provided with prerecorded message means, said handset being disposed adjacent to said audio device for reception therefrom of prerecorded messages by the pick-up means for transmission through the telephone lines, means connecting said control unit to said audio device for initiating operation of said device subsequent to completion of said programmed dialing operation, said sensor unit including a normally open thermostatic switch, said control unit including a code disk carrying a plurality of replaceable projections on the circumference thereof, a normally open control switch disposed adjacent said disk having a contact arm engageable by said projections, power means connected to said disk rotatably urging said disk to engage said projections with said coritac't arrrn'and detent means normally preventing rotation of said disk, said detent means including a release relay coil, a source of electrical energy, said coil and said thermostatic switch being serially connected across said source. t I

8. An automatic alarm system for use with a telephone subset including a handset having pick-up means electrically connected to a cradle which is electrically connected to telephone lines and mounts a manual dialing device and a circuit breaker button ordinarily a'ctuatedbythe handset, comprising, "a sensor unit,"a control unit, means connecting said sensor unit to said control unit'for initiating'operation thereof, dial means mounted independ entof said manual dialing device and in mechanically operative relation to said telephone cradle for emergency plural number dialing, and meansop'eratively connecting said control unit to said dial meansfor controlling'prm grammed dialing operation thereof, an audio device, said audio device provided being with pre -recorded message means, said handset being disposed adjacent to said' audio device for reception therefrom of prerecorded'messages' by the pick-up means for transmission tothe telephone lines, and means connecting said control unit to said audio device for initiating operation of said device,"subscquent to completion of said programmed dialing operation, said dialing means including an arm pivotally mounted in alignment with said button, springmeansnorma'lly urging said arm into engagement with saidbut tonfand' a dialing relay provided with an'armature and acoil'j said armature being secured to said arm spaced from said pivotal mounting. Y i

9. The combination of claim 8 including saidsensor unit comprising a normally open thermostatic switch, said control unit includinga 'codedi'skcarrying a plurality ofreplaceable projections on the circumference thereof, a normally open control switch disposed adjacent said disk having a contact arm 'engageable'by said projections, power means connected to said disk rotatably urging said disk to engage said projections with said contact arm, and detent means normally preventing rotation of said disk, and wherein, said dialing relay coil'is serially conn'ected to said control switch across a source of electrical energy."' I" Y 10; The combination of claim'9 wherein said detent means includes "a"release relay coil serially connected across said source of electrical energy with said thermo static switchi" 11. An automatic alarm "system' for use with'a'tele phone'subset including'a handset having pick-up means electrically connected t'o" acradle which" is electrically connected to telephone lines and mounts a manualdial ing device-'and'a circuit breaker buttonfordinarily actuated by'the'handset, comprising, a sensor unit, a control unit, means-connecting saidsensor unitto said control unit for initiating operation thereof, dial means mounted independent of said manual dialing device' and in rnechanically operative relation to said telephone cradle for emergency plural number dialing, and means operatively connecting said control unit to said dial means for controlling, an audio device, said audio device being provided with prerecorded message means, said handset being dis posed adjacent to said audio device for reception therefrom of prerecorded messages by the pick-up means for transmission through the telephone lines, and means connecting said control unit to said audio device for initiating operation of said device, subsequent to completion of said programmed dialing operation, said sensor unit comprising a normally open thermostatic switch, said control unit including a code disk carrying a plurality of projections on the circumference thereof, a normally open control switch disposed adjacent said disk having a contact arm engageable by said projections, power means connected to said disk rotatably urging said disk to engage said projections with said contact arm, and detent means normally preventing rotation of said disk, a radial arm mounted on said code disk, a normally open audio device initiation switch disposed in alignment with said radial arm and adapted to be closed thereby.

12. An automatic alarm system for use with a telephone subset including a handset having pick-up means electrically connected to a cradle which is electrically connected to telephone lines and mounts a manual dialing device and a circuit breaker button comprising, a sensor unit, a control unit, means connecting said sensor unit to said control unit for initiating operation thereof, dial means mounted independent of said manual dialing device and in mechanically operative relation to said cradle for emergency plural number dialing, means operatively connecting said control unit to said dial means for controlling programmed dialing operation thereof, an audio device, said audio device being provided with prerecorded message means, said handset disposed adjacent to said audio device for reception therefrom of prerecorded messages by the pick-up means for transmission through the telephone lines, means connecting said control unit to said audio device for initiating operation of said device subsequent to completion of said programmed dialing operation, said sensor unit comprising a normally open thermostatic switch, said control unit including a code disk carrying a plurality of projections on the circumference thereof, a normally open control switch disposed adjacent said disk having a contact arm engageable by said projections, power means connected to said disk rotatably urging said disk to engage said projections with said contact arm, and detent means normally preventing rotation of said disk, a radial arm mounted on said code disk, a normally open audio device initiation switch disposed in alignment with said radial arm and adapted to be closed thereby, said dialing means including an arm pivotally mounted in alignment with said button, spring means normally urging said arm into engagement with said button, and a dialing relay provided with an armature and a coil, said armature secured to said arm spaced from said pivotal mounting.

13. An automatic alarm system in combination with a telephone subset including a handset having pick-up means and adapted to be cradled by a cradle unit which is electrically connected to telephone lines and mounts a manual dialing mechanism and a circuit breaking push button which is adapted to be actuated by said handset, comprising, dialing means for removably receiving said cradle unit to intermittently actuate said circuit breaking push button by engagement therewith for plural number dialing independent of said manual dialing mechanism, interchangeably coded signal means operatively connected to said dialing means for dialing operation thereof and subsequent conditioning of the cradle unit for message reception, alarm sensing means operatively connected to said coded signal means to initiate operation thereof.

14. An automatic alarm system in combination with a telephone subset including a handset having pick-up means and adapted to be cradled by a cradle unit which is elec-' trically connected to telephone lines and mounts a manual dialing mechanism and a circuit breaking pushbutton which is adapted to be actuated by said handset, comprising, dialing means for removably receiving said cradle unit to intermittently actuate said circuit breaking pushbutton by engagement therewith for plural number dialing independent of said manual dialing mechanism, interchangeable coded signal means operatively connected to said dialing means for programming dialing operation thereof and subsequent conditioning of the cradle unit for message reception, alarm sensing means operatively connected to said coded signal means to initiate operation thereof, recorded message means removably receiving said handset for message transmission through said pick up means when uncradled from the cradle unit, and means operatively connecting the recorded message means to the coded signal means for initiating operation of the message means following dialing operation of the dialing means.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said coded signal means comprises a signal-released dialing disc having a circumferential, insert-receiving groove, and a plurality of circuit-closing, dial-pulsing and spacing inserts removably received within said groove.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said dialing means comprises lever means engageable with said circuit-, breaking push button in an open-circuit condition and relay means operatively connected to the lever means and coded signal means for intermittent disengagement of the lever means from the push button for dial tone operation, plural number dialing and message receiving operation.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said operative connecting means comprises initiating switch means drivingly connected to the dialing disc of the coded signal means for control of the recorded message means.

18. The combination of claim 13 wherein said dialing means comprises lever means engageable with said circuitbreaking push button in an open-circuit condition and relay means operatively connected to the lever means and coded signal means for intermittent disengagement of the lever means from the push button for dial tone operation, plural number dialing and message receiving operation.

19. The combination of claim 17 wherein said operative connecting means comprises initiating switch means drivingly connected to the coded signal means for control of the recorded message means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,870,547 Wise Aug. 9, 1932 2,188,055 Marsh et a1. Jan. 23, 1940 2,399,229 Jacobson Apr. 30, 1946 2,512,981 Svoekhotoif June 27, 1950 2,878,315 Agule Mar. 17, 1959 3,095,478 Adams June 25, 1963 

1. AN AUTOMATIC ALARM SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A TELEPHONE SUBSET INCLUDING A HANDSET HAVING MAGNETIC PICK-UP MEANS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO A CRADLE WHICH IS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO TELEPHONE LINES AND MOUNTS A MANUAL DIALING DEVICE AND A CIRCUIT BREAKER BUTTON ORDINARILY ACTUATED BY THE HANDSET, COMPRISING, A SENSOR UNIT, A CONTROL UNIT, MEANS CONNECTING SAID SENSOR UNIT TO SAID CONTROL UNIT FOR INITIATING OPERATION OF SAID CONTROL UNIT IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF SAID SENSOR UNIT, AN ARM, MOVABLY MOUNTED IN FIXED RELATION TO THE CRADLE AND DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BUTTON FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, SAID ARM BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED MECHANICALLY TO SAID CONTROL UNIT FOR MOVEMENT THEREBY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BUTTON FOR EMERGENCY PLURAL NUMBER DIALING INDEPENDENT OF SAID MANUAL DIALING DEVICE. 